Brake



March 15, 1938.

O. H. FOWLER BRAKE Original Filed April 29, 1931 INVENTOR gWf/V /7FOMfl? ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 15, 19 38 ZJILBM PATENT OFFME BRAKE Owenlll. Fowler, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Bendix Brake Company, SouthBend, 1nd., a

corporation of Illinois Original application April 29, 1931, Serial No.

533,737. Divided and 1?, 1936, Serial No. 96,792

2 Claims.

This invention relates to brakes, and more particularly, to applyingmeans for brakes.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective applyingdevice employing a tensioned cable.

Another object is to provide an applying means for a brake band or shoeincluding means for retaining the band or shoe against lateral movement.

A further object is toprovide an applying device for an internalexpanding brake of the shiftable anchorage type, which freely permitsshifting of the friction elements.

Still another object is to provide an operating means including a pairof levers and means providing for simultaneous movement of the levers.

The above and other objects and desirable particular constructions willmore fully appear by reference to the following detailed description ofan illustrative embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

The figure is a sectional view of an internal expanding brake embodyingmy invention, taken just inside the head of the brake drum and showingthe friction element in side elevation.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a brake having the usualrotatable brake drum (2, the open end of which is closed by a relativelystationary support or backing plate l6, upon which is mounted a frictionelement or any desired type, but shown as a flexible band 28 havingseparable ends 30 and 32, and a rigid portion 34 opposite said ends. Theband is also provided with the usual friction lining and has threehooks, 36, 38 and 46 spaced about the inner surface thereof forengagement with return springs. The novel features of the band 28 aremore fully described and claimed in my copending application, Serial No.533,737, filed April 29, 1931, of which this is a division.

Although my novel applying device is suitable for application to manydiiferent kinds of brakes, e. g. the common two-shoe brake, theillustrated brake is of the shlftable anchorage type, having a singleanchor post 26, secured to the backing plate l6 between the separableends 30 and 32 of the band 28 and adapted to receive the braking torquefrom either of said'ends depending upon the direction of rotation of thedrum l2.

My novel operating means or applying device comprises correspondinglevers 42 and 44 pivoted on the backing plate. These levers have ofisetends 46.engaging slots 48 in the inner periphery of the band. The otherends of the levers are connected by a cable 50 with a suitable ad thisapplication August justing member 52 interposed. The cable is nor mallyheld under tension by return springs tit and 56.

These springs are connected between the pivots connecting the cable tolevers and the hooks 3t and 33 on the band. These springs together withan auxiliary return spring 58 connected between the hook 40 on the bandand a fixed support on the backing plate serve to retain the band when.in the off position against the anchor and a suitable adjustable stop68. Because of the particular arrangement of the levers use of steadyrests is avoided, since the relation of the levers to the band is suchthat the band is retained against lateral movement.

Positioned on the backing plate is an operating shaft 62 to which poweris applied through a lever, not shown. The shaft 62 has suitably securedthereto an arm 64 upon which is positioned for rotation a flanged roller66 adapted to travel on the cable 50.

Assuming that force is applied to rotate the shaft 62, the arm 64 ismoved angularly. This causes roller 66 to travel on the cable 50 and tobend the cable. The force imposed on the cable through the roller drawsthe ends of the levers 42 and 44, to which the cable is connected,toward each other with the result that the offset ends 46 of the leversmove in opposite directions away from the anchor, causing the band tomove into drum engagement.

As the band is moved into drum engagement, the wiping action of the drumcauses a slight shifting of the band circumferentially of the brake and.the levers will reposition themselves. to accommodate this movement bydrawingthe cable 50 over the roller 66 without substantial effect onthe. position of the lever 64. Thus the novel applying device freelyadapts itself to varying conditions of wear of the brake and to theshifting of the band for forward and reverse braking. I 7

While only one embodiment of my invention has been described in detail,it is not my intention that the scope of my invention should be limitedto that embodiment or otherwise than by the terms of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A brake comprising a friction element having separable ends, asupport for said friction element, levers pivoted intermediate theirends on said support each having an end engaging the friction elementadjacent one of the separable ends respectively, a flexible tensionmember connecting the other-ends of the levers, means for 0! saidrecesses respectively, a, flexible tension member connecting the otherends of the levers, means for exerting a. force transversely on saidtension member, and springs tensioned between said other ends of thelevers and the friction ele- 5 meat.

OWEN H. FOWLER.

